Photographic-printing or continuous-copying machine



B. J. HALL. I PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING 0R CONTINUOUS COPYING MACHINE. 1,408,881.

APPLICATION FlLED JAN-13,1921- Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

B. J. H-ALL. PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING 0R CONT|NUO US COPYING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN-13,1921. 1,408,881.

B. J. HALL.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING 0R CONTINUOUS COPYIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION men JAN. I3, 1921.

1 108,881. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WELSH? co B. J. HALL.

PHOTOGRAFHIC PRINTING OR CONTINUOUS COPYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13.1921.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- NITED ST BENJAMIN JAMES HALL, OF EASTCOTE, ENGLAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIG-PRTINTIN G OR CONTINUOUS-COPYING MACELNE.

' To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, BnNJA'MrN JAMES HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at F ieldend, Eastcote, 1n the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Con-.

nected with Photo raphic-Printing or Continuous-Copying hfachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to machines for photographic printing or continuous copying, the object bein to produce a machine with a glass troug or simllar shaped frame illuminated internally by a lamp of the enclosed type throwing downward rays constructed, preferably, with its carbons supported in holders, practically 1n a hor1- zontal position pivoted to arms swinging in the direction in which the carbons move and flexibly connected with the iron core of the controlling solenoid, said lamp being either stationary or arranged to travel backwards and forwards in the trough in the direction of the major axis or axes, whereby the whole rays of the lamp are concentrated on one surface.

According to this invention when using a lamp arranged to travel backwards and forwards I suspend the lamp on a carriage mounted on overhead rails preferably supported by the framework of the machine. Motion ma be imparted to the lamp carriage, in the one direction, by means of flexible bands passing over pulleys and connected to a crank operated by gearing or equivalent, and in the reverse direction by the action of a spring or springs. Or the motion from the crank or cranks may be made positive in both directions by means of a driving chain and sprocket wheels.

The trough shape glass plate is fixed horizontally between the framework of the machine so that the suspended lamp or lamps enter the trough. Contact is made with the lower surface of the plate, preferably, by a flexible band passing over rollers mounted in bearings supported by the frame work of the machine. Motion is. imparted to these rollers by suitable gearing, driven, preferably, by an electric motor fixed to the bed of the machine.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood I have appended the accompanying drawings.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 13, 1921.

Patented Mar. '7, 1922. Serial No. 436,981.

Fig. 1 shows a back elevation of a continuous copying machine constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the gear end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing how the carriage may be moved in both directions by a driving chain and sprocket wheels through the medium of the crank.

A represents the lamp, B the carriage, to which the lamp is suspended, D the overhead rails on which the carriage travels backwards and forwards, E the framework of the machine upon which the rails are supported, F the flexible bands by which motion in the one direction is imparted to the carriage B, H, H the pulleys over which the flexible bands pass, J the crank to which the flexible band. F is connected by the connection J or J, K the gearing which operates the crank J, S the spring which operates the carriage B in the reverse direction through the medium of the flexible band F, L the trough shape glass plate which is fixed horizontally between the framework E and in which the lamp A is suspended and travels, M the flexible band by which contact is made with the lower surface of the glass plate L, N the rollers over which the flexible band M passes, P the reduction gear box containing the gear by which motion is imparted to the rollers N through worm gear P and R the electric motor by which the gearing is driven. The connection J may be a rod as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or it may be a cord J as shown in Fig. 1.

he operation is as follows When the motor R is started and assuming the lamp A is at the commencement .of its forward traverse-that is at the end into which the material to be copied is fed into the machine-then the lamp will be pulled along in the glass trough L by the flexible band F through the medium of the crank J and continue to traverse in this direction until it reaches the end of the said trough, the spring S, which is attached to one end of the flexible band F being extended during this forward movement of said lamp.

Now by the time the lamp reaches this position the crank J will have moved round so as to release its pull on the flexible band showing the crank F, consequently the spring S will pull the said lamp through the glass trough in the reverse direction, andas soon as 1t reaches the other end of the trough the said crank J will again commence to pull on the band F, thus the lamp will continue to travel backwards and forwards. Simultaneously with the movement of this lamp the material to be copied travels forward on the endless flexible band M, in the direction of the arrows in shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being kept in contact with the under surface of the glass trough by said endless band M.

At Fig. 4 I have shown diagrammatically how the motion from the crank J may be made positive in both directions. In this case I connect the crank J to an endless driving chain j by the connecting rod J which is rigid. The endless chain passes over sprocket wheels and the pulleys H, over whlch the flexible bands attached to the carriage pass, are driven by the gear wheels 7', 7'. It Wlll be seen as the crank J moves round in the path indicated by dotted lines, that the connecting rod J will pull the chain j first in the one direction and then in the other thereby moving the lamp backwards and forwards.

In order to enable the lamp A to b trimmed conveniently and rapidly, I extend the rails D supporting the carriage B to a suflicient length on one or both sides of the machine, (see Fig. 1 where the rails are shown extended on one side only) provision being made in the traversing mechanism for this extended motion. The underside of the lamp can thus be brought quite clear of the machine constituting a unique feature in a continuous copier.

It must be understood I do not confine myself to the use of a semicircular glass trough, but may use one of semi-elliptical shape, or any other curve in which the rays of the lamp or other source of light will be brought close to the upper surface of the glass and effectively distributed over the exposed surface.

Owing to the superior contact obtained by means of a drum revolving in the inner curve of a glass plate forming a semi or less part of a circle, I may construct my machine in some cases with a glass plate having the upper surface convex.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is 1. In a photographic printing machine, a curved plate of translucent material, a lamp arranged above the said plate, means for moving the lamp longitudinally of the said plate, and means for moving the material arranged longitudinally of the said plate and above it, a lamp suspended from the said rails above the said plate, means for sliding the lamp longitudinally of the said rails and plate, and means for moving the material to be printed crosswise of the said plate and against its undersurface.

4. In a photographic printing machine, a

curved plate of translucent material, rails arranged longitudinally of the said plate and above it, said rails being provided with extensions which project beyond one end of the plate, va lamp suspended from the said rails above the said plate, means for sliding the lamp along the rails and their extensions, and means for moving the material to be printed crosswise of the said plate and against its undersurface.

5. In a photographic printing machine, a curved plate of translucent material, a lamp arranged above the said plate, driving devices for moving the lamp longitudinally of the said plate in one direction, a spring for moving the lamp in the reverse direction, and means for moving the material to be printed crosswise of the said plate and against its undersurface.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN JAMES HALL.

Witnesses:

H. W. DENTON-INGHAM, G. J. DENTON-INGHAM. 

